Printing apparatus.



PATENTED NOV. O, 1903;`

J. H. KETGHBSQN. PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. Z, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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NO MODEL.

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PATNNTEN Nov. 10, 1903. J. H. KPTGNNSON. PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 2, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No MODEL,

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PRINTING APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 2, 1903.

3 SHEBTS-LSHEBT 3.

NO MODEL.

@gf E VNo. 743,884. v

l UNITED STAT-*ns Patented November 1,0., 1,903.

PATENT Y OFFICE.

JOHN H. KETCHESON, OF ST. LOUIS,-MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VJOHN M. GOMES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PRINTiNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. '243,884, dated November 10, 1903.

Application filed MarchZ, 1903. Serial No. 145.823. No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. KETcHEsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it`apper.

, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. '3 is a sectional plan view taken on line `8 3. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views hereinafter described. Fig. S is a detached sectional detail of the hopper with its plunger in an elevated position, and Fig. 9 is a similar view with the plunger in its lowered position. f

This invention relates .to machines designed for the purpose of printing, marking, or stamping upon cylindricalor somewhatcylindrical articles, especially cigarettes, cheroots, cigars, and other articles manufactured from tobacco, the object of the invention being to produce such a machine which will be substantially automatic in, its operation and suciently yielding in its coperating parts to adapt itself to the variety of conditions which arise in thecommercial use of mechanism of this character.

In marketing cigars it is desirable that some distinguishing mark shall be applied to each cigar for various reasons, and toapply such mark, brand, or emblem as will clearly distinguish such cigars the machine has been invented.

In the description and claims following where the terms inking device,4 inking-4 roller, ink, die., are used it should be: understood that the same are used merely for brevity and convenience of description, and while it is possible that commonly knownl kinds of ink maybe used it should be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to, ink containing the ordinary pigment, but

prefer to use somev formula of marking mixture which will conform as nearly as possible to the particular requirements where the device is used in marking cigars or tobacco products.

Referring to the drawings, A is a frame o f any suitable material, carrying the posts B, which may be integral therewith or separately formed and secured thereto, as may be desired.

Projecting forwardly from the posts B are the brackets O, in which are carried operat- 6o ing parts hereinafter described. Y Y l is a hopper, into which the cigars are placed for convenient feeding toa conveyor hereinafter described.

The feed from the hopper, which is regulated by means of a reciprocating plunger 2, provided with an opening 3 therethrough, and the beveled head 4, is designed as a stop to close the exit-orifice 5 when desired. In line with rthe orice 5v is a conveyor 6, -pro- 7o vided with separating-blades 7, arranged at convenient intervals along the face of said conveyor to provide receptacles therebetween, in which are carried, the cigars to be marked. On the shaft 8, upon which is carried the conveyor 6, is a ratchet 9, coperating with the spring-actuating pawl l0, pivotally connected to the pivoted arm 11, which. arm also actuates plunger 2 through the auxiliary arm 12 and rod 13, connected with said 8o plunger 2. .The rearward end of the conveyer is supported upon the shaft 14, which is yieldingly sustained in position by means of the spring l5 bearing against the boxes 16,

in which said shaft la is supported, while 85 set-screws 17 and 1S are provided for the purpose of securing more or less vertical adjustment ofthe forward end of said conveyor, whereby the same cooperating with a die or marker traveling through a predetermined 9c zone may bebrought into contact therewith Yregardless of the diameter of the cigars car- A ried by the said conveyor.

In the post B is held a shaft 20, upon which is carried a driving-pulley 2l, which may be 95 driven by any convenientv connection and is preferably continuously rotating during the 'operation of the machine.

Carried on the shaft 20 isla gear 22, while 22 meshes with a pinion 24, which inturn meshes with the pinion 25 upon the shaft 26, which shaft is provided with a spline or feather 27 and carries the distributing-cylinder 28, which cylinder projects slight-ly below the arc of the ink-plate 29, which is supported in any convenient manner, as by means of the brackets 30, from the lower arm C. Traveling over the ink-plate 29 and the projecting portion of the roller 28 are the inkingrollers 3l, loosely mounted in the bracket 32 by means of the trunnions 33, held in bearings 34. The bracket 32 is pivotally connected to the rod 35, carried in the arm 36, and is yieldingly supported therein through the instrumentality of the spring 35, so as to permit more or less play of said rollers 31 in operation. The upper end of the arm 36 is pivotally supported upon the stud or shaft 37 and is provided with a vertically-projecting portion 38, to which is pivotally connected the link 39, to which in turn is pivotally connected the link 40, provided with the stud or roller 41, working in said cam-groove 23, so that as the said shaft 2O rotates it will carry with it the gear 22 and cam 23, thereby actuating the distributing-cylinder 28 and the said rollers 31.

Suitably mounted in the arm C is a reciprocatoryplunger 42, carrying upon its lower face a die or marker 43, which is preferably dovetailed, so as to lock it in position in the lower end of the plunger 42, and is removable therefrom to permit the substitution of one marking-die for another when desired. Pivotally connected to the plunger 42 is a bracket 45, provided with an angular offset, to which is pivotally connected the end of the arm 46,which leads from thence rearwardly, where it is pivoted on the stud-shaft 47 and extends thence rearwardly,where its free end is provided with a roller 48, working in said cam-groove 23, so that as the said cam rotates the plunger 42 will be given a reciprocatory motion, whereby the die 43 on its lower end will be carried into contact with cigars or other articles, (indicated in dotted lines by the reference-letter (1,) carried in the said conveyer 6. Supported by the bracket 50, connected, preferably, to the rear end of the frame A, is a pivoted link 51, which is likewise provided with a roller or stud 52, also heldin said cam-groove 23,while anotherlink 53 extends thence downwardly and is pivotally connected to the rear end of the lever l1, before referred to, through link lla, whereby upon each rotation of the cam 23 the plunger 2 and the pawl 10 will be actuated, thereby releasing one cigar from the hopper and advancing the ratchet 9 one tooth, and consequently with it the conveyer 6 one degree. Upon reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the inkdistribution cylinder 28 is substantially a shell or pulley, in the hub of which is formed the cam 55, while the arm 56, provided with a stud 57, is connected securely to the arm C, so that upon rotation of the ink-distribution cylinder 28 the stud following the cam-groove 55 will cause complete lateral thrust and return of the ink -distribution cylinder 28, whereby ink placed upon its surface will be the more perfectly distributed and thereby more evenly fed to the inking-rollers 31. Upon reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 it will be observed that the conveyer 6 is composed of interlocked hinged sections connected by means of the pintles b, while the verticallyextended projections 7 of said conveyer are provided with the return-bend c, which is adapted the more firmly to hold in position the spring-clasp 60, which, by reason of its peculiar bend and the spring metal of which it is formed, will readily pass down over the said return-bend c and be thereby properly held in position against removal, except upon sliding the same longitudinally of said vertically-extending portions 7. The object of the members 60 is to provide some means for partially illing the spaces between the several members 7 when desired, as in the case of cigars o r other articles smaller than the largest size marked by the machine being passed through the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The hopper l being filled with cigars and the machine operated, it will be apparent that upon-each rotation of the shaft 20 the plunger 2 will automatically descend and rise, whereby cigars will be fed to the conveyer until a sufficient quantity has been fed thereon to carry the most forward one underneath the printing-die or marker 43, which die, being controlled in its movement by said cam 23, will have imparted to it the necessary reciprocatory movement to cause it to rise and fall, carrying it upon each descent into contact with one of the cigars a, carried and firmly held by the conveyer 6, and to provide a convenient and necessary amount of ink to enable the die 43 to mark said cigars. The rollers 31 will be, through the means described, carried back and forth in contact with the ink-distribution cylinder 28, ink-plate 29, and die or marker 43, wherebythe supply of ink or marking material will be constantly renewed upon the face of said die, the arm l1, carrying the pawl 10, meanwhile advancing the conveyer 6 step by step and supplying the cigars regularly to the marking-die. It will be apparent that an apron or other means may be provided upon which the cigars or other articles may fall from the conveyer 6 after being marked; but to avoid confusion it is not shown.

The vertical projections 7 are a part of or are rigidly fixed at right angles to the base and at one end of each link, so that while passing around the forward drum X said projections 7 will separate, thus allowing the cigars to fall freely into place between said projections 7 and to close upon and hold said cigars firmly when said links advance to the plane connecting the drums X and X' while said cigars are being carried to the printing device, and especially while said cigars are ICO IIO

being printed. Said projections will be separated as they pass over the drum X', thereby releasing the cigars after having been so stamped, whereupon they will fall upon an apron or other device provided for their reception.

I am aware thatniinor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a reciprocatory plunger, marking-die thereon, an intermittently-operated inkingroller therefor, an intermittently-operated feed-conveyer coperatin g with said plunger, an actuating-cam, and connections between said cam, conveyer and inking-roll-er whereby said cam is caused to actuate the saine; substantially as described. y

2. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a marking-die normally at rest,an inking means coperatingY therewith, an intermittently-operated.conveyer, a cam for actuating said marking-die when said conveyor is at rest, and means operable from said cam foractnating said inking' means when said marker is at rest; substantially as described.

3. In a machine for vmarking on cylindrical bodies, a marking-die normally at rest, an inking means coperating therewith when at rest, an intermittently-operated conveyer, and a cam for actuating said marking-die when said conveyer is at rest, andy for actuating said conveyer when said marking-die is at rest; substantially as described.

4. In a machine for marking on cylindricalv bodies, a hopper, an intermittently-actuated feed therefor, a conveyer coperating therewith, means for providing regularity of spacing on said conveyer, an intermittently-operated plunger coperating therewith,-a marking-die on said plunger, and a cam operating said feed and said marking-plunger; substantially as described.v

5. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a driving-shaft, an actuating-cam thereon, a reci procatory marker and an intermittently-actuated conveyer cooperating with` said marker, said conveyer and said marker being connected with said cam so as to be ac'- tuated thereby; substantially as described.

6. In a machine for marking on cylindrical marker,

bodies,adriving-shaft,marking means,means .by said cam cooperating with said marker;

substantially as described.

8. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a driving-shaft, an ink-distribution cylinder driven thereby, a cam on said shaft, a reciprocatory plunger and an intermittentlyactuated conveyer coperating therewith,said plunger and said conveyor being driven from said` cam; substantially as described.

9. In a machine for'rnarking on cylindrical bodies, a driving-shaft, a cam on said shaft, a marker and a conveyor both of which are actuated by said cam, and a yieldingly-sustained inking-roller for inking said marker intermittently coperating with said marker; substantially as described.

' 10. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a driving shaft, an automaticallyoperated feeding means, intermittently-actuated conveyor, intermittently operated marker, and-a cam on said driving-shaft cooperating with said marker and said feeding means; substantially as d-escribed.

l1. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a driving shaft, an automaticallyoperated feeding means, intermittently-actuated conveyer, intermittently operated intermittently operated inking means therefor, and acam on said drivingshaft actuating said feeding means, said conveyer and said marker; substantially as described.

12. In a machine for marking on cylindrical bodies, a yieldingly-supported and intermittently actuated conveyor, a reciprocatory marker, an actuating-cam,and actuating connections between said cam, said conveyer and marker; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l hereunto ax my signature, in thepresence of two Witnesses, this 23d day of February, 1903.

JOHN H. KETCHESON..

Witnesses:

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

AIOC

IOS 

